Eric Rouleau may be a first-year varsity football coach at Colonie, but he enters his position on firm footing with his players.

Previously a varsity assistant, Rouleau steps in to replace Bill Roemer, who stepped down after losing his teaching position to budget cuts. (The school then named Matt Stein as interim head coach, but he departed to take over as the athletic director at Mohonasen.)

Rouleau said he accepted the job to bring some stability to what had been a tumultuous set of circumstances.

"I have spent a lot of time with these kids during the off-season," Rouleau said.

"I was tired of the instability of what they were going through, so I decided to take it. I told the kids, 'I can guarantee you one thing: I will be here, and next August you will be playing football."

Said Colonie senior quarterback Will McCann: "I was actually glad when Coach Rouleau got the position, because he was the first one in the weight room in the morning, and he is one of those guys we're going to rally behind. Whatever he says goes — no matter what."

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John Mullally, who started on the offensive and defensive lines in 2013, echoed McCann's sentiments.

"I've had him as a coach the past two years. Having him is a good thing, because our line can really rally around him," Mullally said.

"It is really good to have him as head coach, given all we have lost."

The Garnet Raiders finished 5-4 overall in 2013, a season that included dropping a thrilling 38-35 Class AA quarterfinal contest against Guilderland — the team that just so happens to be Colonie's 2014 Week 1 opponent.